It's almost here: our first-ever RoparyFest!

Darn, we're impressed with those Rotarians!

It was only last weekend that SooToday.com revealed our secret rope fetish.

And already, organizers of the 2006 RotaryFest have announced they've wrangled two exciting new rope acts for next weekend's event.

Here's the announcement we got this afternoon from Carolyn Bunting O'Connor, chief events rigger for the Ropary(?) Club of Sault Ste. Marie: *********************** Rotary expands the Sault's largest summer festival

Sault Ste. Marie, ON, July 8, 2006 - The sign of a healthy community festival is whether it is growing or diminishing in size.

The Sault's largest summer festival, RotaryFest, has been expanding over the last several years and is showing no signs of stopping in 2006.

RotaryFest will be delivering all the exciting family entertainment and events it has become known for, but this year the festival will be adding several brand new events and expanding others.

New to RotaryFest in 2006 will be two unique performance artists, Pete Sweet and High Strung as well as a brand new outdoor dining experience, Lunch Al Fresco.

Pete Sweet (shown on top of high-strung acrobat woman) rides a unicycle along a rope high off the ground while juggling fire, and singing crazy jazz. He has been described as "a circus artist who weaves comedy, theatre, skill and heart into performances that stun and inspire." Pete Sweet is presented by Community First Credit Union. High Strung (shown underneath crazy jazzman) are an acrobatic troupe who blend a mastery of ballet, trapeze, and circus showmanship into an entertaining air-borne show that will leave you breathless. High Strung is presented by Scotiabank and Station Mall Merchants Association.

Lunch Al Fresco, held between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday July 14 will be an outdoor culinary delight featuring BBQ ribs from the New Marconi Restaurant, Muio’s chicken, plus a variety of sandwiches from A Thymely Manner.

Building on the success of last year's new Second Stage, RotaryFest will be expanding the Second Stage from one to two nights (July 13 & 14).

The Second Stage, presented by Lucidia, The Speakeasy and LopLops Gallery/Lounge, showcases exclusively original music, and will have an onsite store selling artist merchandise.

RotaryFest will be delivering all the great mainstay events and entertainment it has become known for over the years.

The Main Stage, operated in conjunction with the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District and sponsored by OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Steel Inc., will feature live entertainment including jazz on Thursday night, rock and country cover bands on Friday & Saturday and an as yet unnamed mystery tribute band headlining Saturday night!

Also returning will be such favourites as the RBC Financial Group PlayZone, the Steelworkers Inflatable playground, the Soap Box Derby, Carnival Rides, face painting sponsored by Tim Hortons, and of course the Wheels on the Water Car Show presented by Continental.

This car show is the largest special interest vehicle display in the area featuring street rods, street machines, originals, antiques, modifieds, customs, trucks, off-road, and race cars.

The 84th annual Rotary Community Day Parade presented by Brookfield Power will take place on Saturday July 15 at 11 a.m. and this year's theme will be "Land of Make Believe."

Visit www.rotaryfest.com for a complete schedule of events and other information.

*********************** (EDITOR'S NOTE: From now until the end of RotaryFest, all Rotary sergeants-at-arms are hereby authorized to collect double the usual happy fines from any Rotarians whose names or images appear on SooToday.com's news pages. We promise to send out our paparazzo to RotaryFest one day with specific directions to snap as many Rotarians as we can find doing their great work in support of our community.)